Spring In England, After the Worst Winter Ever Recorded!

After the winter seemed to have gone, what a joy to see sights like this everywhere. It seemed spring had finally sprung, and everyone was smiling in the two weeks of mild weather everywhere. Then the worst happened; it turned bitterly cold, wet and windy. The wind and rain flattened everything in sight, there seemed no end to it. These photos were taken on February 8th and since then it has been almost impossible to get the camera out, till today. I hope you enjoy your walk with me in the cold spring air. Snowdrops and a yellow crocus, in the spring sunshine.

To enlarge any picture please click on it.

It is hard to believe that on February the 8th these Daffodils and Tulips were out!

Japanese ornamental quinces were in flower and the Iris reticulata joined in as well.

Then the wind howled and the thermometer plummeted. The rain was incessant, and some of us thought we might never again see a spring as we know it. So today was a dry day, I ventured forth to see what I could find. Crocus and Daffodils, then Forsythia in the small park today.

The damage to the spring bedding and lawns was amazing, everything is soaked.

More damage but I did find some Daffodils!

The Willows are coming into leaf, and a couple of wild Narcissus.

This frontal area is normally kept quite tidy, it doesn't quite look like that at the moment. More Willows nearly in leaf.

Mahonica japonica 'Charity' in flower! I have no idea where these Polyanthus growing amongst the Ivy have come from.

Now on to the large south facing park, as the last one is pure north facing. Masses of Daffodils!

These woodland Hellebores are so late!

More Hellebores and a white one.

Canada Geese in the lake!

Two Ducks, one white one and a Drake Mallard swimming together. Then a land shot of them all together.

You cannot have an English park without a lake! The children love to come and feed the wildfowl. In the first picture there are some Pigeons in flight after stealing a bit of bread! In the second picture look how well a Duck is comouflaged in the undergrowth against the Drakes in the background!

A close up of a Duck with my zoom lens. A rather fat Drake!

I have never known a park that has as so many Blue Cedars everywhere! An Iris I spotted.

One of the beds in the lawn and in the distance crocus everywhere. Some crocus out between the trees.

Yes another Blue Cedar! The bowling green at least looks nice.

What a lovely sight, and yes, more Blue Cedars.

A scruffy winter Jasmine in flower. I cannot really describe the next bit of the park as it is a mixture of everything.

A real mixture!

Very pleasant though in the summer!

Then into another bit of the park, this is also unusual to say the least! More crocus and Daffodils then into the water section.

Bamboo with a lovely Ghostly Silver birch in the distance. A Silver birch in the foreground against a Golden conifer.

A Garrya eliptica or New Zealand tassel bush. Vinca major in flower!

More Daffodils!

Daffodils against the water, which leads down to the next picture.

Another Blue Cedar with blossom in the background. Snowdrops out in the park, how strange!

How beautiful are these trees in blossom against a Silver birch, and in a bed.

More blossom amongst the trees. Red Berberis what a nice sight!

I am not quite sure what this Canada goose is up to? Then back at my mothers these were in flower!

A lovely yellow Polyanthus and the first Hyacinth I have seen!

Now the Magnolias are coming out. From Snowdrops to Magnolias all in one day.

What a weird combination of overcast clouds and sun, then to the plants themselves. Confused yet, I am!

Thank you very much for being on my walk with me, and I hope you have enjoyed it!

Now they say snow by Thursday here!

Regards.

Neil. 

For Nancy and Cherie!